In Q3 2024, the Fantom Foundation rebranded to Sonic Labs, marking a strategic pivot toward developing a new Layer 1 blockchain called Sonic. While Fantom initially launched in 2018 to offer fast, affordable, and secure transactions, the network encountered challenges with scalability and transaction speeds over time. To address these limitations, the team opted to build an entirely new blockchain with a fresh token and clearer brand identity. Currently in its testnet phase, Sonic is scheduled for a late 2024 launch. As part of the transition and testnet phase, Sonic Labs has released two new initiatives aimed at attracting users, developers, and infrastructure to the new Sonic chain.
Sonic Arcade: A Comprehensive Analysis of a Play-to-Earn Platform
Sonic Arcade is Sonic Labs’s latest initiative to promote awareness around the upcoming Sonic chain and $S token. It represents a novel integration of play-to-earn gaming, decentralized finance, and provably fair verifiable random functions (VRFs).
Sonic Arcade offers users a digital playground where they can engage in classic games like Plinko, Mines, and Wheel. Built on the Sonic testnet, Sonic Arcade merges blockchain technology with a gamified experience, allowing participants to earn points, which can later be used in an S token airdrop. Sonic Arcade incentivizes interaction with its network by offering users the ability to earn points through gameplay. Importantly, while the games offer rewards in the form of airdrop points, participation is free of cost.
The platform, developed with the collaboration of WINR Protocol, plays a significant role in Sonic Labs's incentivized testnet campaign, which is designed to drive early user engagement and platform adoption. Sonic Arcade currently operates on the Sonic testnet. This unique model encourages users to explore the testnet, experience the platform’s capabilities, and prepare for the eventual transition to the Sonic mainnet.
Each game incorporates a randomized reward structure, ensuring fairness through the use of verifiable random functions (VRFs). Provided by Supra Oracles, this technology guarantees the randomness of each game’s outcome. At the start of each game, players approve a transaction that initiates a request for a random number from the Supra Oracles smart contract. Using distributed VRF technology, Supra Oracles generates a random seed off-chain, which is then used by Sonic Arcade’s contract to execute the game’s outcome. Additionally, Sonic Arcade’s transparent smart contract architecture ensures that all interactions are publicly verifiable on-chain, providing further assurance to users.
Tokenomics and Incentive Structure
At the core of Sonic Arcade’s ecosystem is $TOKEN, a non-transferable asset required to play the platform's games. Users can claim up to 420 $TOKEN weekly, providing a continuous supply of tokens to support ongoing participation. However, it is critical to note that the $TOKEN used for gameplay has no monetary value. Its purpose is purely functional within Sonic Arcade. While these tokens do not hold any intrinsic value, they are essential for accessing the play-to-earn games. Each game costs one $TOKEN to play, and the more one engages with the platform, the greater the potential for earning airdrop points.
The incentive structure within Sonic Arcade revolves around point accumulation. Points function similarly to tickets in traditional arcade settings in that they do not hold monetary value. However, they are essential for users aiming to qualify for the S token airdrop. This design promotes continuous interaction with the platform while also positioning Sonic Arcade as a low-risk entry point into the broader Sonic ecosystem. Participants can track their progress and see where they rank on the Sonic Arcade Leaderboard.
Games
Wheel
Wheel is the simplest of the three games, offering a straightforward betting mechanic. Players select a reward multiplier and spin the wheel to determine if the result matches their wager. The size of the bet directly correlates to the odds of winning, with higher multipliers offering larger rewards but at the cost of decreased winning probabilities. The game’s design is simple yet engaging, appealing to users seeking a quick and direct way to earn points.
Plinko
Plinko, one of the core offerings on Sonic Arcade, is a luck-based game where players drop balls onto a pegboard, with each ball bouncing randomly until landing in one of the reward slots at the bottom. No matter how many balls you choose, their total value will add up to one. Therefore, if you have four balls, each ball is worth 0.25 and will get you 0.25 worth of the reward it lands on.
In the game, you can choose the number of rows at the bottom and the number of balls to drop. Having more rows will offer you higher potential rewards but also increase the chances of not receiving a reward. While more rows increase the likelihood of receiving no reward, they also elevate the potential payoff.
The game's outcome relies on a verifiable random function (VRF), ensuring fairness in its mechanics. This randomness adds an element of unpredictability, reinforcing the fact that skill does not influence the result. Instead, Plinko offers an engaging experience centered around chance and probability.
Mines
Mines presents a more interactive experience, requiring players to uncover runes on a grid without triggering hidden mines. As players select squares, they either find runes—granting them points—or detonate mines, which ends the game. The number of mines on the grid affects the point value of each rune, with fewer mines leading to lower point values and vice versa. This game challenges players to balance risk and reward, as they can choose to either continue exploring the grid or redeem their points at any time.
First, the player chooses the number of mines to be on the board. The higher the number of mines, the more points you will earn for each rune you find. Then, they start clicking on the squares to find the runes. The game ends either when you find all the runes, land on a mine, or choose to redeem your points instead.
Sonic Boom Program: Driving Early Growth and Innovation on the Sonic Network
The Sonic Boom program, another initiative spearheaded by Sonic Labs, is distinct from Sonic Arcade in that it aims to attract high-quality projects, developers, and infrastructure projects rather than individual users. The initiative seeks to engage top-tier developers by providing them with resources and incentives to build innovative solutions that can accelerate the adoption and usability of the Sonic network.
Similar to Sonic Arcade, the Sonic Boom initiative does have winners. Sonic Labs will reward up to 30 projects in the form of Sonic Gems. These Gems serve as points that developers can allocate to reward their users, contributing to the overall user engagement within the Sonic ecosystem. The Gems represent a flexible and merit-based rewards system, allowing developers to distribute points as they see fit (no strings attached) to engage users and drive adoption.
Up to 37.5% of Sonic Labs's 190.5 million $S token airdrop is reserved for holders of Gems, providing developers with a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact on the network and incentivize their user base.
Eligibility and Project Categories
The Sonic Boom program is open to developers and teams capable of building protocols that align with the initiative's goals. To qualify, projects must be deployed on the Sonic testnet and transition to the Sonic mainnet within seven days of its launch. Participants are free to develop any protocol they choose, although Sonic Labs provides several recommended categories to increase their chances of winning. These categories include lending, NFTs, infrastructure, payments, gaming, DePIN, and more.
By offering these diverse categories, Sonic Boom allows participants to develop a wide array of protocols that meet the program’s objectives, driving user engagement and innovation across multiple sectors within the Sonic ecosystem.
Evaluation Criteria and Winner Selection
Sonic Boom will recognize up to 30 winners, who will be divided into three tiers (Emerald, Sapphire, and Ruby) based on their performance. The projects will be judged based on several criteria, including the uniqueness of the concept, the quality of execution, and the potential to drive user adoption on Sonic. Each project is evaluated according to the following metrics:
- Concept: How captivating and valuable is the idea to users?
- Execution: Is the project executed with excellence and attention to detail?
- Impact: What is the broader impact of the project on the Sonic ecosystem? Does it have the potential for long-term sustainability?
- Points Strategy: How effectively will the application use Sonic Gems to drive success and attract users?
Conclusion
The rebranding of the Fantom Foundation to Sonic Labs and the launch of the Sonic blockchain marks a strategic evolution, addressing the scalability challenges of the original network. Sonic Labs aims to create a more scalable and user-friendly Layer 1 solution, blending gamification and decentralized finance with infrastructure development.
Sonic Arcade introduces users to blockchain through engaging, risk-free play-to-earn games like Plinko, Mines, and Wheel, powered by verifiable random functions (VRFs) for fairness. The platform incentivizes early engagement by offering points redeemable for $S token airdrops.
Complementing this, the Sonic Boom program targets developers, rewarding top projects with Sonic Gems and access to the $S token airdrop, driving innovation across key sectors. Together, these initiatives set the stage for Sonic’s late 2024 mainnet launch, positioning it as a robust platform for both users and builders.
Disclaimer: This report was commissioned by Sonic Labs. This research report is exactly that — a research report. It is not intended to serve as financial advice, nor should you blindly assume that any of the information is accurate without confirming through your own research. Bitcoin, cryptocurrencies, and other digital assets are incredibly risky and nothing in this report should be considered an endorsement to buy or sell any asset. Never invest more than you are willing to lose and understand the risk that you are taking. Do your own research. All information in this report is for educational purposes only and should not be the basis for any investment decisions that you make.
In Q3 2024, the Fantom Foundation rebranded to Sonic Labs, marking a strategic pivot toward developing a new Layer 1 blockchain called Sonic. While Fantom initially launched in 2018 to offer fast, affordable, and secure transactions, the network encountered challenges with scalability and transaction speeds over time. To address these limitations, the team opted to build an entirely new blockchain with a fresh token and clearer brand identity. Currently in its testnet phase, Sonic is scheduled for a late 2024 launch. As part of the transition and testnet phase, Sonic Labs has released two new initiatives aimed at attracting users, developers, and infrastructure to the new Sonic chain.
Sonic Arcade: A Comprehensive Analysis of a Play-to-Earn Platform
Sonic Arcade is Sonic Labs’s latest initiative to promote awareness around the upcoming Sonic chain and $S token. It represents a novel integration of play-to-earn gaming, decentralized finance, and provably fair verifiable random functions (VRFs).
Sonic Arcade offers users a digital playground where they can engage in classic games like Plinko, Mines, and Wheel. Built on the Sonic testnet, Sonic Arcade merges blockchain technology with a gamified experience, allowing participants to earn points, which can later be used in an S token airdrop. Sonic Arcade incentivizes interaction with its network by offering users the ability to earn points through gameplay. Importantly, while the games offer rewards in the form of airdrop points, participation is free of cost.
The platform, developed with the collaboration of WINR Protocol, plays a significant role in Sonic Labs's incentivized testnet campaign, which is designed to drive early user engagement and platform adoption. Sonic Arcade currently operates on the Sonic testnet. This unique model encourages users to explore the testnet, experience the platform’s capabilities, and prepare for the eventual transition to the Sonic mainnet.
Each game incorporates a randomized reward structure, ensuring fairness through the use of verifiable random functions (VRFs). Provided by Supra Oracles, this technology guarantees the randomness of each game’s outcome. At the start of each game, players approve a transaction that initiates a request for a random number from the Supra Oracles smart contract. Using distributed VRF technology, Supra Oracles generates a random seed off-chain, which is then used by Sonic Arcade’s contract to execute the game’s outcome. Additionally, Sonic Arcade’s transparent smart contract architecture ensures that all interactions are publicly verifiable on-chain, providing further assurance to users.
Tokenomics and Incentive Structure
At the core of Sonic Arcade’s ecosystem is $TOKEN, a non-transferable asset required to play the platform's games. Users can claim up to 420 $TOKEN weekly, providing a continuous supply of tokens to support ongoing participation. However, it is critical to note that the $TOKEN used for gameplay has no monetary value. Its purpose is purely functional within Sonic Arcade. While these tokens do not hold any intrinsic value, they are essential for accessing the play-to-earn games. Each game costs one $TOKEN to play, and the more one engages with the platform, the greater the potential for earning airdrop points.
The incentive structure within Sonic Arcade revolves around point accumulation. Points function similarly to tickets in traditional arcade settings in that they do not hold monetary value. However, they are essential for users aiming to qualify for the S token airdrop. This design promotes continuous interaction with the platform while also positioning Sonic Arcade as a low-risk entry point into the broader Sonic ecosystem. Participants can track their progress and see where they rank on the Sonic Arcade Leaderboard.
Games
Wheel
Wheel is the simplest of the three games, offering a straightforward betting mechanic. Players select a reward multiplier and spin the wheel to determine if the result matches their wager. The size of the bet directly correlates to the odds of winning, with higher multipliers offering larger rewards but at the cost of decreased winning probabilities. The game’s design is simple yet engaging, appealing to users seeking a quick and direct way to earn points.
Plinko
Plinko, one of the core offerings on Sonic Arcade, is a luck-based game where players drop balls onto a pegboard, with each ball bouncing randomly until landing in one of the reward slots at the bottom. No matter how many balls you choose, their total value will add up to one. Therefore, if you have four balls, each ball is worth 0.25 and will get you 0.25 worth of the reward it lands on.
In the game, you can choose the number of rows at the bottom and the number of balls to drop. Having more rows will offer you higher potential rewards but also increase the chances of not receiving a reward. While more rows increase the likelihood of receiving no reward, they also elevate the potential payoff.
The game's outcome relies on a verifiable random function (VRF), ensuring fairness in its mechanics. This randomness adds an element of unpredictability, reinforcing the fact that skill does not influence the result. Instead, Plinko offers an engaging experience centered around chance and probability.
Mines
Mines presents a more interactive experience, requiring players to uncover runes on a grid without triggering hidden mines. As players select squares, they either find runes—granting them points—or detonate mines, which ends the game. The number of mines on the grid affects the point value of each rune, with fewer mines leading to lower point values and vice versa. This game challenges players to balance risk and reward, as they can choose to either continue exploring the grid or redeem their points at any time.
First, the player chooses the number of mines to be on the board. The higher the number of mines, the more points you will earn for each rune you find. Then, they start clicking on the squares to find the runes. The game ends either when you find all the runes, land on a mine, or choose to redeem your points instead.
Sonic Boom Program: Driving Early Growth and Innovation on the Sonic Network
The Sonic Boom program, another initiative spearheaded by Sonic Labs, is distinct from Sonic Arcade in that it aims to attract high-quality projects, developers, and infrastructure projects rather than individual users. The initiative seeks to engage top-tier developers by providing them with resources and incentives to build innovative solutions that can accelerate the adoption and usability of the Sonic network.
Similar to Sonic Arcade, the Sonic Boom initiative does have winners. Sonic Labs will reward up to 30 projects in the form of Sonic Gems. These Gems serve as points that developers can allocate to reward their users, contributing to the overall user engagement within the Sonic ecosystem. The Gems represent a flexible and merit-based rewards system, allowing developers to distribute points as they see fit (no strings attached) to engage users and drive adoption.
Up to 37.5% of Sonic Labs's 190.5 million $S token airdrop is reserved for holders of Gems, providing developers with a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact on the network and incentivize their user base.
Eligibility and Project Categories
The Sonic Boom program is open to developers and teams capable of building protocols that align with the initiative's goals. To qualify, projects must be deployed on the Sonic testnet and transition to the Sonic mainnet within seven days of its launch. Participants are free to develop any protocol they choose, although Sonic Labs provides several recommended categories to increase their chances of winning. These categories include lending, NFTs, infrastructure, payments, gaming, DePIN, and more.
By offering these diverse categories, Sonic Boom allows participants to develop a wide array of protocols that meet the program’s objectives, driving user engagement and innovation across multiple sectors within the Sonic ecosystem.
Evaluation Criteria and Winner Selection
Sonic Boom will recognize up to 30 winners, who will be divided into three tiers (Emerald, Sapphire, and Ruby) based on their performance. The projects will be judged based on several criteria, including the uniqueness of the concept, the quality of execution, and the potential to drive user adoption on Sonic. Each project is evaluated according to the following metrics:
- Concept: How captivating and valuable is the idea to users?
- Execution: Is the project executed with excellence and attention to detail?
- Impact: What is the broader impact of the project on the Sonic ecosystem? Does it have the potential for long-term sustainability?
- Points Strategy: How effectively will the application use Sonic Gems to drive success and attract users?
Conclusion
The rebranding of the Fantom Foundation to Sonic Labs and the launch of the Sonic blockchain marks a strategic evolution, addressing the scalability challenges of the original network. Sonic Labs aims to create a more scalable and user-friendly Layer 1 solution, blending gamification and decentralized finance with infrastructure development.
Sonic Arcade introduces users to blockchain through engaging, risk-free play-to-earn games like Plinko, Mines, and Wheel, powered by verifiable random functions (VRFs) for fairness. The platform incentivizes early engagement by offering points redeemable for $S token airdrops.
Complementing this, the Sonic Boom program targets developers, rewarding top projects with Sonic Gems and access to the $S token airdrop, driving innovation across key sectors. Together, these initiatives set the stage for Sonic’s late 2024 mainnet launch, positioning it as a robust platform for both users and builders.
Disclaimer: This report was commissioned by Sonic Labs. This research report is exactly that — a research report. It is not intended to serve as financial advice, nor should you blindly assume that any of the information is accurate without confirming through your own research. Bitcoin, cryptocurrencies, and other digital assets are incredibly risky and nothing in this report should be considered an endorsement to buy or sell any asset. Never invest more than you are willing to lose and understand the risk that you are taking. Do your own research. All information in this report is for educational purposes only and should not be the basis for any investment decisions that you make.
In Q3 2024, the Fantom Foundation rebranded to Sonic Labs, marking a strategic pivot toward developing a new Layer 1 blockchain called Sonic. While Fantom initially launched in 2018 to offer fast, affordable, and secure transactions, the network encountered challenges with scalability and transaction speeds over time. To address these limitations, the team opted to build an entirely new blockchain with a fresh token and clearer brand identity. Currently in its testnet phase, Sonic is scheduled for a late 2024 launch. As part of the transition and testnet phase, Sonic Labs has released two new initiatives aimed at attracting users, developers, and infrastructure to the new Sonic chain.
Sonic Arcade: A Comprehensive Analysis of a Play-to-Earn Platform
Sonic Arcade is Sonic Labs’s latest initiative to promote awareness around the upcoming Sonic chain and $S token. It represents a novel integration of play-to-earn gaming, decentralized finance, and provably fair verifiable random functions (VRFs).
Sonic Arcade offers users a digital playground where they can engage in classic games like Plinko, Mines, and Wheel. Built on the Sonic testnet, Sonic Arcade merges blockchain technology with a gamified experience, allowing participants to earn points, which can later be used in an S token airdrop. Sonic Arcade incentivizes interaction with its network by offering users the ability to earn points through gameplay. Importantly, while the games offer rewards in the form of airdrop points, participation is free of cost.
The platform, developed with the collaboration of WINR Protocol, plays a significant role in Sonic Labs's incentivized testnet campaign, which is designed to drive early user engagement and platform adoption. Sonic Arcade currently operates on the Sonic testnet. This unique model encourages users to explore the testnet, experience the platform’s capabilities, and prepare for the eventual transition to the Sonic mainnet.
Each game incorporates a randomized reward structure, ensuring fairness through the use of verifiable random functions (VRFs). Provided by Supra Oracles, this technology guarantees the randomness of each game’s outcome. At the start of each game, players approve a transaction that initiates a request for a random number from the Supra Oracles smart contract. Using distributed VRF technology, Supra Oracles generates a random seed off-chain, which is then used by Sonic Arcade’s contract to execute the game’s outcome. Additionally, Sonic Arcade’s transparent smart contract architecture ensures that all interactions are publicly verifiable on-chain, providing further assurance to users.
Tokenomics and Incentive Structure
At the core of Sonic Arcade’s ecosystem is $TOKEN, a non-transferable asset required to play the platform's games. Users can claim up to 420 $TOKEN weekly, providing a continuous supply of tokens to support ongoing participation. However, it is critical to note that the $TOKEN used for gameplay has no monetary value. Its purpose is purely functional within Sonic Arcade. While these tokens do not hold any intrinsic value, they are essential for accessing the play-to-earn games. Each game costs one $TOKEN to play, and the more one engages with the platform, the greater the potential for earning airdrop points.
The incentive structure within Sonic Arcade revolves around point accumulation. Points function similarly to tickets in traditional arcade settings in that they do not hold monetary value. However, they are essential for users aiming to qualify for the S token airdrop. This design promotes continuous interaction with the platform while also positioning Sonic Arcade as a low-risk entry point into the broader Sonic ecosystem. Participants can track their progress and see where they rank on the Sonic Arcade Leaderboard.
Games
Wheel
Wheel is the simplest of the three games, offering a straightforward betting mechanic. Players select a reward multiplier and spin the wheel to determine if the result matches their wager. The size of the bet directly correlates to the odds of winning, with higher multipliers offering larger rewards but at the cost of decreased winning probabilities. The game’s design is simple yet engaging, appealing to users seeking a quick and direct way to earn points.
Plinko
Plinko, one of the core offerings on Sonic Arcade, is a luck-based game where players drop balls onto a pegboard, with each ball bouncing randomly until landing in one of the reward slots at the bottom. No matter how many balls you choose, their total value will add up to one. Therefore, if you have four balls, each ball is worth 0.25 and will get you 0.25 worth of the reward it lands on.
In the game, you can choose the number of rows at the bottom and the number of balls to drop. Having more rows will offer you higher potential rewards but also increase the chances of not receiving a reward. While more rows increase the likelihood of receiving no reward, they also elevate the potential payoff.
The game's outcome relies on a verifiable random function (VRF), ensuring fairness in its mechanics. This randomness adds an element of unpredictability, reinforcing the fact that skill does not influence the result. Instead, Plinko offers an engaging experience centered around chance and probability.
Mines
Mines presents a more interactive experience, requiring players to uncover runes on a grid without triggering hidden mines. As players select squares, they either find runes—granting them points—or detonate mines, which ends the game. The number of mines on the grid affects the point value of each rune, with fewer mines leading to lower point values and vice versa. This game challenges players to balance risk and reward, as they can choose to either continue exploring the grid or redeem their points at any time.
First, the player chooses the number of mines to be on the board. The higher the number of mines, the more points you will earn for each rune you find. Then, they start clicking on the squares to find the runes. The game ends either when you find all the runes, land on a mine, or choose to redeem your points instead.
Sonic Boom Program: Driving Early Growth and Innovation on the Sonic Network
The Sonic Boom program, another initiative spearheaded by Sonic Labs, is distinct from Sonic Arcade in that it aims to attract high-quality projects, developers, and infrastructure projects rather than individual users. The initiative seeks to engage top-tier developers by providing them with resources and incentives to build innovative solutions that can accelerate the adoption and usability of the Sonic network.
Similar to Sonic Arcade, the Sonic Boom initiative does have winners. Sonic Labs will reward up to 30 projects in the form of Sonic Gems. These Gems serve as points that developers can allocate to reward their users, contributing to the overall user engagement within the Sonic ecosystem. The Gems represent a flexible and merit-based rewards system, allowing developers to distribute points as they see fit (no strings attached) to engage users and drive adoption.
Up to 37.5% of Sonic Labs's 190.5 million $S token airdrop is reserved for holders of Gems, providing developers with a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact on the network and incentivize their user base.
Eligibility and Project Categories
The Sonic Boom program is open to developers and teams capable of building protocols that align with the initiative's goals. To qualify, projects must be deployed on the Sonic testnet and transition to the Sonic mainnet within seven days of its launch. Participants are free to develop any protocol they choose, although Sonic Labs provides several recommended categories to increase their chances of winning. These categories include lending, NFTs, infrastructure, payments, gaming, DePIN, and more.
By offering these diverse categories, Sonic Boom allows participants to develop a wide array of protocols that meet the program’s objectives, driving user engagement and innovation across multiple sectors within the Sonic ecosystem.
Evaluation Criteria and Winner Selection
Sonic Boom will recognize up to 30 winners, who will be divided into three tiers (Emerald, Sapphire, and Ruby) based on their performance. The projects will be judged based on several criteria, including the uniqueness of the concept, the quality of execution, and the potential to drive user adoption on Sonic. Each project is evaluated according to the following metrics:
- Concept: How captivating and valuable is the idea to users?
- Execution: Is the project executed with excellence and attention to detail?
- Impact: What is the broader impact of the project on the Sonic ecosystem? Does it have the potential for long-term sustainability?
- Points Strategy: How effectively will the application use Sonic Gems to drive success and attract users?
Conclusion
The rebranding of the Fantom Foundation to Sonic Labs and the launch of the Sonic blockchain marks a strategic evolution, addressing the scalability challenges of the original network. Sonic Labs aims to create a more scalable and user-friendly Layer 1 solution, blending gamification and decentralized finance with infrastructure development.
Sonic Arcade introduces users to blockchain through engaging, risk-free play-to-earn games like Plinko, Mines, and Wheel, powered by verifiable random functions (VRFs) for fairness. The platform incentivizes early engagement by offering points redeemable for $S token airdrops.
Complementing this, the Sonic Boom program targets developers, rewarding top projects with Sonic Gems and access to the $S token airdrop, driving innovation across key sectors. Together, these initiatives set the stage for Sonic’s late 2024 mainnet launch, positioning it as a robust platform for both users and builders.
Disclaimer: This report was commissioned by Sonic Labs. This research report is exactly that — a research report. It is not intended to serve as financial advice, nor should you blindly assume that any of the information is accurate without confirming through your own research. Bitcoin, cryptocurrencies, and other digital assets are incredibly risky and nothing in this report should be considered an endorsement to buy or sell any asset. Never invest more than you are willing to lose and understand the risk that you are taking. Do your own research. All information in this report is for educational purposes only and should not be the basis for any investment decisions that you make.
